Reversible-strut brake beam



R. W. BURNETT; REVERSIBLE STRUT BRAKE. BEA'M. nhuman FILED oc.1 7.1919.

1 405 5 Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

add-rd improvements in the parts and devices and I specification.

*tachment of the brake levers employed in "specification, Figure'l is atop plan view of a truckbeam of a railway car showing my lmprovements in connection therewith.

UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICEQI RICHARD W. BURNETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REVERSIBLE-STRUT BRAKE BEAM;

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 "P t nt b 7 1922.

Application filed December 1?," 1919. Serial 1%. 345,576

and useful Improvement in Reversible- Strut Brake Beams, of which the following.

is a. full clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, forming a" part of this This invention relates to improvements in reverslble strut brake beams.

In the operation of railway cars, it is well known that the struts of the brake ""beams are sometimes set to the right and sometimes to the left, that is, the struts I are positioned at an angle to'the vertical sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other 1n order to provide for the j atapplying the brakes to the wheels of the truck. Heretofore, it has been" the common practice for such struts to be made rigid with respect to the brake beams, thereby necessitating the carrying in stock of righthanded and left-handed struts;

One object of my invention is to provide a strut for brake beams, which strut may be reversed or adjusted so as to be usable in either the left-hand or right-hand condition, the adjustment being efi'ected at anytime after the brake beam has been com-.

pletely assembled. I

Another object of my invention to provide a strut for brake beams so attached tothecompression' and tension members of the brake beam that the column-proper of the strut may be replaced or renewed, as well as adjusted Without the necessity of disassembling the brake beam or taking as the strut anchor block which is employed to rigidly secure one end of the strut to the compression member of the brake beam;

The invention furthermore consists in the in the novel combinations of the parts and devices herein shown, described and made the subject matter of claims. I

In the drawing forming'a part of this F1gure'2 is an enlarged sectional view taken lengthwise of the strut and corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

ate

In Figure 2, parts are broken away in order to accommodate the figureon the sheet and also to more clearly illustrate the construction. Figure 3 is sectional view taken substantially on the line of Figure2f Figures 4, a and 6 are views corresponding respectively to Figure 3 but illustrating difi'erentembodiments of' my invention.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, 10 denotes the tension member, 11 the compression member: and A the strut of a brake beam of a railway car. The tension. member 10 is of bar form and the compression member is channelshaped as clearly indicated, in F igure 2, the construction of these parts being wellknown andin common use. At the ends of the brake beam are shown the usual heads 12+12. v p I The improved strut A, as shown, includes what Iterm'an anchor block B, a column 0,

i and a bearing block D/The anchor block f in the specific embodiment shown, is that member by which the attachment of the strut to the compression member 11 .is

accomplished and the bearing block D is that partof the strutwhich transmits the pressure to theltension member 10. :The

anchor block B, asshown, is a one-piece member of substantially hollow rectangular .form at its outer end as indicated at 13 in Figure 2 and the opening 14 therein is.

so" designed, as to properly fit over the channel-shaped compression member of the.

brake beam. The anchor block B is held or secured in its position after the parts have been assembledby a wedge key 15 .which is driven betweenthe web of the channel and the wall of the, anchor block B, the latter having suitable lugs 1616 to maintain the key against slipping and in effect forming a guide for the key. The

key 15 has a bendableltongue 17 at its narrow end which isibent out against the anchor block when the key has been driven home.

As'wil'l be understood the art, the anchor block' is applied to the compression member ll before thefbrakebeam. has the. usual heads applied thereon.

those skilled in The bearing block D of"the strut' con-.

sists of. a castingof suitable form having a recess 18 at its outer end which fits over the f tension member 10. The bearing block- D also has a cylindrical socket 19 on its inner sidewith a transversew-all or partition 20 at the bottom thereof thereby forming a r the introduction of'thefflange 32'as'will be pocket or bearing for the correspondingly shaped end 21 of the column C. A swivel joint is effected between the bearing block D and the column C by means of the rivet 22, there being suitable clearance provided for that end of the rivet adjacent the ten-' sion, member '10. The bearing block D is preferably provided with upstanding cars 23 suitably perforatedas indicated at 24 to adapt the brake beam for a third point suspension. r V

The column C is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 25 into which the truck or brake lever maybe inserted and secured to the column by a pin or bolt passing through the lever and holes 125 1n the arms of the column C;

In order to rovide for the adjustment or reversing of tlie strut to adapt it for right and left-hand operation, I employ the followin structure. The anchor block B is exten edinwardly from the compression member 11 of the brake beam by means of flanges 2626 which are merged on one side as indicated at 27 in Figure 3. The flanges 262627' are so formed as to provide a half bearing 28" for a journal section 29 integrally formed on the column C. It'will be 7 ing provided on the anchor .blockB, from a rations in the flanges 26 and cap E. The iiinoted that the said flanges 26 26 extend parallelso that the journal section 29 of the column C may be inserted within this bearlateral direction and this is true even *when the block B is secured in lace on the compression member 11 of the rake beam. The

remainder ofthe bearing for the journal section' 29 of the column C is provided by a combined spacer and bearing cap designated by the referenceE. Said spacer'cap E fits between the two flanges 26 and is securely riveted thereto as-by means of the'rivet 30 which passes through suitably alined perfoner side ofthe cap '13 is curved as indicated at '31 to conform to the circumference of the journal section 29 so that the column may oscillate within the two-part bearing described.' In order to transmit the pulling forcesbetween the column C and theanchoi" block B, that is between, the strut and the compression member 11 of the brake beam, the column C is formed with an annular flange 32 at its extreme end :ad'jacentthe anchorbl'ock B. The block B is'provided with a corresponding semi-annular groove or recess 33 to accommodate saidfiange 32, shoulde'rs34 being thereby provided onthe block B to t'ransmit the longitudinal pulling forces.

' "'Th'eside walls of the recess 33 are made tangent asjn'd'i ated M35 in order to permit of understood; In order to provide greater bearing forfthe flange 32, the combined "spacerjand bearingcap E is extended to the with an arcuate flange 36 which bears against the flange 32 The standard practice in the use of brake strut to rest in either of the proper right or left positions, the flange 32 of the column is formed with a lug or extension 37 of sub' stantially triangular shape, the side edges 3783 8 thereof being so positioned that, when the edge 38 lies against a side 35 of the opening 33, as indicated by one of the dotted posi- V 7 tions in Figure 3,the column C will be at its proper 40 angle. 7

With the construction hereinbefore described, it is evident that the strut can be adjusted or reversed after it has been assembled with the brake beam by merely employing a bar or lever to properly turn it. It will also be noted that, in the event of breakage of the column proper-of thestrut, the column may be replaced without the necessity of disassembling the entire brake beam since the connection betweenithe ane chor block B and the column A can be broken by shearing the rivet 30 and the column replaced and a new rivet 30 substituted, the foregoing being due to the fact that the column canbe swung laterally with respect to the anchor block 13, and such" recess 133 formed in the anchor :block B The arcu'ate recess 133 isin reality anenlargement of the semi-annular recess 133 provided in the block 13'' for the annular flange 132 formed on-the column of the strut. A combined. spacerand bearing cap Ev is employed riveteduto theanchor block'B' in the same way as in the construction shown 1 in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In Figure 5, the arra ement is substan tially the same as that sown in Figure 3. vexcept that the flange 232 formed on the column of the strut isno'tched or cut away as 7 stop or lug 237 is formed on/the combined spacerand bearing cap E". It will be eviindicated at 50 and thecooperating limiting .dent thatthe rotative movements of the 001- umn are limitedby the lug 237 engagingthe s flange 232 at either end of. the slot 50. V

In the construction illustrated in Figure 6, thejournal section of the column of the strut is indicatedby thereference 329 the; anchor block by the reference B and the bearing cap by fthe reference E :In this construction, the bearing cap is provided with arms 51 -51 Which'straddle the adjawithin the scope of the claims appended hereto. Y

I claim:

1. In a brake beam for cars having a tension member and a compression member, a strut, said strut comprising, an anchor block adapted to be united to said compression member, a bearing block adapted to be seated against said tension member, and a column extending between said anchor and bearing blocks and swiveled to both of them, the swivel connection between said column and anchor block including a laterally open bearing in one of said elements, a. corresponding journal section in the other of said elements, a bearing cap, and overlapping shoulders on said elements whereby, upon removal of said bearing cap, the column may be removed from the anchor block without disturbing the connection of thelatter with the compression member of the beam. 2. As an article of manufacture, a reversible strut for brake beams having a tension 7 member and a compression member, said strut comprising; a one-piece anchor block having an opening therethrough adapting it to be slipped over one of said members, a column, and a bearing block, said column and bearing block having a pivotal connection, said anchor block and the column being one of them provided with a journal section and the other with an integral bearing having a lateral opening therefrom whereby the column may be removed from the anchor block while the latter remains in place on the brake beam member, said anchor block and column having a cooperating annular flange and groove whereby longitudinal pulls from the column may be communicated to the anchor block.

3. As an article of manufacture, a reversible strut for brake beams comprising; a one-piece anchor block, a column, and a bearing block, the column and bearing block being adjustably connected, said anchor for limiting the relative rotation between the column and the anchor block.

4. As an article of manufacture, a strut for brake beams comprising; an anchor block adapted to be rigidly secured to the compression memberiof a brake beam, said anchor block having a laterally open bearing formed integrally thereon and provided also with an annular recess, a column having a journal section cooperable with said bearingfof the anchor blockand provided also with an annular flange working in said annular recess, said flange being formed integrally with the column, the column and block being assembled'by movement of the one transverse of the other through said lateral opening of the bearing without disturbing the attachment between the block and the compression member, and means for holding the anchor block and column in 'as-- sembled relation.

5'. In a brake beam 'for'r'ailway cars, the combination with a tension'member and a compression member; of a strut comprising, an anchor block fitted over said compression member and fixed in position thereon, a bearing block seated against said tension member, and a column interposed between the anchor block and the bearing block, said column being swiveled with respect'to the anchor block and the bearing block, the swivel connection between the column and the anchor block comprising a laterally open bearing on the block, a journal section on the column, a flange on the column bearing against a corresponding shoulder provided on the anchor block, and a bearing ca formed separately from the anchor bloc and secured thereto. q

6. As an article of manufacture, a reversible strut for brake beams, said strut comprising; an anchor block having a semi-cylindrical bearing with an opening ofa width equal to the diameter of the bearing, leading laterally therefrom and formed integrally with the block, said block being provided also with an annular recess adjacent said bearing, a slotted column to which the truck lever is adapted to be pivoted, said column havin a journal section cooperating with said caring and adapted to be inserted therewithin through said opening, said column having also an annular flange disposed within said recess, a bearing cap fitting over said journal section within said opening and secured to and cooperating with said anchor block to retain the column in position, means roviding for a lost motion of predetermined amount between the column and anchor block, and a bearing block swiveled to the opposite end of said strut.

7. As an article of manufacture, a reversible strut for brake beams having a channel-shaped compression member and a tension member, said strutcomprising: a bearing block adapted to be seated on the tension member an anchor block having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough adapted to accommodate the channel-shaped compression member therewithin, said anchor block having Wedge guiding lugs a ing rotatably mounted Withrespect to the ivithinsaid opening so located, asto come opposite the ,web of the channel-compression member whereby a Wedge key may-be driven between the web of the channel-compression memberandthe opposedwall of the anchor block to retain the anchor block securely in position; and a column extending betweenv ible strut for brake beamscomprising; an

anchor block adapted to be attached to the compression member of a 'brake beam, a

bearing block, and acolumn, the column ,be-

hearing block, said anchor block having a journal bearing and the column a cooperable journal adapting the vcolumn .to rotate with respect to' the anchor block, said column being separable from the anchor block While the latter remains attached to the compres, sion member of the brake beam, cooperable annular shoulders on said anchor block and column preventing movement of the column longitudinallyrwith respect to the. anchor block, and cooperable shoulders disposed transverse to the annulars'houlders, on said column and one of said blocks, arrangedto limit the rotation of the column Withrespect to the anchor block.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing l i have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of November 1919;

YVitness: r

-META SCHMIDT. 

